NHL Network Radio presents the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions Round One
Here we go, yet again, with the Stanley Playoffs! And here we go, yet again, with the World Famous SiriusXM NHL Network Radio Stanley Cup Playoff Prediction Pool. This is the 17th year we’ve foolishly laid everything on the line. There are 24 participants this time around, all looking to hoist the “Cup”.
The Boston Bruins ran away with the 2022-23 regular season, setting impressive records for most wins in a season (65) and most points in a season (135). But that was then, and this is now, and everybody keeps pointing to the 2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning, who racked up 62 wins only to be swept in the first round by the Columbus Blue Jackets. (The Bolts recovered nicely, and won the Stanley Cup the next two times after this rather shocking exit.)
Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid ran away with the 2022-23 regular season, putting up impressive totals in goals (64) and points (153). His team-mate Leon Draisaitl wasn’t too shabby either, finishing second in points (128). But all you hear is, have they won a Cup yet?
The answer is a resounding no. But they’re not alone in still being a number of yards short of reaching the summit. Is this the year for the Oilers, the Hurricanes, the Maple Leafs, the Stars, or the Golden Knights, or the…or the…
In a league that features more parity than arguably at any previous point in its long history, the factor you’ll keep hearing about is goaltending. And this isn’t new; that factor/concern has been around since they began playing the game. Modern analytics have illustrated/underscored that you don’t need superstar goaltending to win it all (Exhibit #1 – the 2022 Colorado Avalanche), but it helps.
The Avalanche are indeed the defending Stanley Cup Champions and will have plenty of challengers as they attempt to go back-to-back. Same scenario here in our esteemed pool. Steve Kouleas finally ascended to the mountain top last spring with an impressive win. Steve correctly picked 14 of the 15 playoff series last spring. Kooly looks to repeat his championship this time around, but that has not been accomplished in this esteemed pool since 2010, and one player has never won the pool solely two years in a row.
The pressure is on the Avalanche; the pressure is on Steve Kouleas. Can the two champions repeat?
Truth is, there is pressure on a number of teams this spring. A quick glance at the last time the 16 current NHL playoff teams held a Stanley Cup winning parade…
Colorado Avalanche 2022
Tampa Bay Lightning 2021
Los Angeles Kings 2014
Boston Bruins 2011
Carolina Hurricanes 2006
New Jersey Devils 2003
Dallas Stars 1999
New York Rangers 1994
Edmonton Oilers 1990
Calgary Flames 1989
New York Islanders 1984
Toronto Maple Leafs 1967
Florida Panthers never
Seattle Kraken never*
Minnesota Wild never*
Winnipeg Jets never*
(*teams that have yet to participate in a Stanley Cup Final)
Keep in mind this is not a bracket challenge. We will submit our predictions round by round. Tune in to “Under Review” on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio Channel 91 every weekday at 11 am Eastern/8 am Pacific for the latest Fearless Playoff Predictions updates.
2022 FINAL RESULTS
- Steve Kouleas 30 points (14 for 15 series picked)
- Jonathan Davis 28 points (12 for 15)
- Scott Laughlin 28 points (12 for 15)
- Dave McCarthy 23 points (13 for 15)
- Bernie Corbett 22 points (12 for 15)
- Dennis Bernstein 21 points (9 for 15)
- Mick Kern 20 points (11 for 15)
- Gord Stellick 19 points (9 for 15)
- Peter Berce 19 points (8 for 15)
- Mike Lippa 19 points (8 for 15)
- Jim Gordon 18 points (11 for 15)
- Joe Thistel 17 points (11 for 15)
- Jesse Ralph 17 points (9 for 15)
- Shane Malloy 16 points (9 for 15)
- Tyler Madarasz 15 points (10 for 15)
- Bruce Bolton 15 points (9 for 15)
- Jake Hahn 15 points (9 for 15)
FEARLESS PLAYOFF PREDICTION CHAMPIONS
- 2023 Champion – ???????
- 2022 Champion – Steve Kouleas
- 2021 Champion – Bruce Bolton (2)
- 2020 Champion – Dennis Bernstein
- 2019 Champion – Jim Gordon
- 2018 Champion – Joe Thistel (3)
- 2017 Champion – Peter Berce (2)
- 2016 Champion – Mike Lippa
- 2015 Champions – Peter Berce & Nick Alberga
- 2014 Champion – Joe Thistel (2)
- 2013 Champion – Bruce Bolton
- 2012 Champion – Mick Kern (4)
- 2011 Champion – Joe Thistel
- 2010 Champions – Scott Laughlin (2) & Shawn Lavigne
- 2009 Champions – Scott Laughlin & Mick Kern (3)
- 2008 Champion – Mick Kern (2)
- 2007 Champions – Mike Ross & Mick Kern
46 points is the maximum number of points one can achieve. Mike Lippa set the record with 36 points back in 2016. REMEMBER: This is NOT a bracket challenge. We will make subsequent picks every round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
- 1 point for correctly choosing the winner of each 1st round series
- 2 points for correctly choosing the winner of each 2nd round series
- 2 points for correctly choosing the winner of each 3rd round series
- 3 points for correctly choosing the 2021 Stanley Cup winner
- 2 points for correctly choosing the 2021 Conn Smythe winner
- 1 point for correctly choosing how long a series goes, but only if one also correctly picks that series’ winning team
- 3 points for correctly choosing the 2021 Stanley Cup winner before the playoffs begin
- 3 points for correctly choosing the 2021 Conn Smythe winner before the playoffs begin
As for favoured teams this time around, here is the statistical breakdown (18 votes in all):
2023 Stanley Cup Champion:
- Boston Bruins 9 votes
- Edmonton Oilers 9 votes
- Dallas Stars 3 votes
- Toronto Maple Leafs 2 votes
- New York Rangers 1 vote
Teams that nobody picked to win a playoff series:
- Seattle Kraken
- Florida Panthers (wait…Bruce Bolton picked them)
And Now…Our Fearless 2023 Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions
Steve Kouleas – DEFENDING CHAMPION
Carolina in 6
New Jersey in 7
Boston in 5
Toronto in 7
Colorado in 4
Dallas in 7
Vegas in 6
Edmonton in 7
Stanley Cup: Boston Bruins
Conn Smythe: Brad Marchand
Linda Cohn
NY Islanders in 7
NY Rangers in 7
Boston in 5
Toronto in 7
Colorado in 7
Dallas in 6
Vegas in 5
Edmonton in 5
Stanley Cup: Connor McDavid
Conn Smythe: Edmonton Oilers
Martin Biron
Carolina in 6
NY Rangers in 7
Boston in 5
Toronto in 6
Colorado in 4
Dallas in 7
Vegas in 6
Edmonton in 5
Stanley Cup: Boston Bruins
Conn Smythe: Linus Ullmark
Mike McKenna
NY Islanders in 6
NY Rangers in 7
Boston in 5
Toronto in 5
Colorado in 6
Dallas in 5
Vegas in 6
Edmonton in 6
Stanley Cup: Dallas Stars
Conn Smythe: Jason Robertson
Jonathan Davis
NY Islanders in 6
New Jersey in 7
Boston in 6
Toronto in 6
Colorado in 6
Vegas in 6
Dallas in 5
Edmonton in 6
Stanley Cup: Edmonton Oilers
Conn Smythe: Connor McDavid
Scott Laughlin
Carolina in 7
NY Rangers in 7
Boston in 5
Toronto in 6
Colorado in 5
Dallas in 6
Winnipeg in 7
Edmonton in 6
Stanley Cup: Boston Bruins
Conn Smythe: David Pastrnak
Dave McCarthy
NY Islanders in 7
NY Rangers in 6
Boston in 6
Toronto in 6
Colorado in 6
Dallas in 5
Winnipeg in 7
Edmonton in 7
Stanley Cup: Edmonton Oilers
Conn Smythe: Connor McDavid
Bernie Corbett
Carolina in 7
NY Rangers in 6
Boston in 5
Tampa Bay in 7
Colorado in 5
Minnesota in 7
Vegas in 6
Edmonton in 6
Stanley Cup: Edmonton Oilers
Conn Smythe: Connor McDavid
Dennis Bernstein
NY Islanders in 6
NY Rangers in 7
Boston in 5
Toronto in 6
Colorado in 5
Dallas in 6
Vegas in 5
Edmonton in 6
Stanley Cup: Boston Bruins
Conn Smythe: David Pastrnak
Mick Kern
Carolina in 7
NY Rangers in 7
Boston in 5
Toronto in 6
Colorado in 6
Dallas in 7
Vegas in 6
Edmonton in 6
Stanley Cup: Boston Bruins
Conn Smythe: David Pastrnak
Gord Stellick
Carolina in 6
NY Rangers in 7
Boston in 5
Toronto in 6
Colorado in 6
Dallas in 5
Winnipeg in 7
Los Angeles in 7
Stanley Cup: Toronto Maple Leafs
Conn Smythe: Mitch Marner
Peter Berce
Carolina in 7
New Jersey in 7
Boston in 6
Toronto in 7
Colorado in 7
Dallas in 7
Vegas in 6
Edmonton in 6
Stanley Cup: Dallas Stars
Conn Smythe: Jake Oettinger
Mike Lippa
NY Islanders in 6
NY Rangers in 7
Boston in 6
Tampa Bay in 6
Colorado in 5
Dallas in 7
Vegas in 7
Edmonton in 5
Stanley Cup: Edmonton Oilers
Conn Smythe: Connor McDavid
Jim Gordon
Carolina in 5
NY Rangers in 7
Boston in 5
Toronto in 5
Colorado in 7
Dallas in 7
Vegas in 7
Edmonton in 5
Stanley Cup: Dallas Stars
Conn Smythe: Miro Heikenen
Joe Thistel
Carolina in 6
New Jersey in 7
Boston in 5
Tampa Bay in 6
Colorado in 5
Dallas in 7
Vegas in 6
Edmonton in 6
Stanley Cup: Boston Bruins
Conn Smythe: Linus Ullmark
Jesse Ralph
NY Islanders in 7
NY Rangers in 6
Boston in 6
Tampa Bay in 7
Colorado in 6
Dallas in 6
Winnipeg in 7
Edmonton in 7
Stanley Cup: Edmonton Oilers
Conn Smythe: Connor McDavid
Shane Malloy
Carolina in 6
NY Rangers in 7
Boston in 5
Tampa Bay in 7
Colorado in 5
Dallas in 6
Winnipeg in 6
Edmonton in 6
Stanley Cup: Boston Bruins
Conn Smythe: David Pastrnak
Tyler Madarasz
Carolina in 6
NY Rangers in 7
Boston in 5
Toronto in 6
Colorado in 6
Dallas in 6
Vegas in 7
Los Angeles in 7
Stanley Cup: New York Rangers
Conn Smythe: Igor Shesterkin
Bruce Bolton
Carolina in 5
NY Rangers in 6
Florida in 6
Tampa Bay in 7
Colorado in 5
Minnesota in 7
Vegas in 6
Edmonton in 6
Stanley Cup: Edmonton Oilers
Conn Smythe: Connor McDavid
Jake Hahn
Carolina in 5
NY Rangers in 6
Boston in 6
Tampa Bay in 7
Colorado in 5
Dallas in 7
Winnipeg in 6
Edmonton in 6
Stanley Cup: Edmonton Oilers
Conn Smythe: Connor McDavid
Ryan Paton
Carolina in 6
New Jersey in 7
Boston in 5
Toronto in 6
Colorado in 6
Dallas in 6
Vegas in 6
Edmonton in 7
Stanley Cup: Toronto Maple Leafs
Conn Smythe: Mitch Marner
Russ Cohen
Carolina in 7
NY Rangers in 6
Boston in 5
Tampa Bay in 7
Colorado in 5
Dallas in 6
Vegas in 7
Edmonton in 5
Stanley Cup: Boston Bruins
Conn Smythe: David Pastrnak
Lucas Critelli
NY Islanders in 7
NY Rangers in 7
Boston in 6
Toronto in 7
Colorado in 5
Dallas in 6
Winnipeg in 6
Edmonton in 7
Stanley Cup: Edmonton Oilers
Conn Smythe: Connor McDavid
Designated Listener: Brad from Trail, B.C.
NY Islanders in 7
NY Rangers in 6
Boston in 6
Tampa Bay in 7
Colorado in 5
Dallas in 6
Vegas in 6
Edmonton in 5
Stanley Cup: Boston Bruins
Conn Smythe: Patrick Bergeron
